Thursday, February 16, 2012

THE PANTHEON OF PUERTO RICAN SANSE

Within the Pantheon of Haitian Vodou the Lwa are categorized within 5 various Nations "Nanchons" of Spirits, which are as follow.

Rada NationPetro NationGuede NationKongo NationNago Nation

The word Lwa is the Haitian Creole word for Law, and is pronounced Lalwa. "La Luwah"

Rada Lwa

The Rada Lwa are the highly elevated ancient Spirits who have their roots in Africa. These Spirits where honored, venerated, worshiped and brought to the New World with the Slave Trade. Within the Rada Division, the Cosmic forces and Spiritual Forces of nature are honored. Many Orishas from Santeria, Candomble, Umbanda, Santerismo, Shango and Obeah also fall within this Division. They are generally benevolent spirits and as a whole are associated with the element of air and the color white, although singularly each Orisha and Lwa control a force of nature, or element, each has his or her own associated color and numbers.

Some Rada can also have Petro aspects which are considered to be much more harsher and aggressive than the more peaceful and benevolent Rada Lwa, some say that these Rada Lwa with Petro traits are aspects, "vueltas" or roads, "caminos" while others argue they are different entities altogether.

Petro Lwa

The Petro / Pretho Lwa have their origin within the New World, and they tend to be more aggressive than the peaceful Rada. The name Petro comes from Don Juan Felipe Pedro "Jean Philippe Petro, Ti Jean Petro" a Negro Slave of the Dominican Republic who in 1768 learned to harness the darker aspects or sides of the Lwa, as well as the native spirits of the land, becoming a powerful and well renowned Papa Boko. The Petro Lwa became very popular within the island of Hispañola especially in Haiti. In Cuba these forces are known as the Inquices or Mpungo. As a whole they are associated with the element fire and the color red.

Ghede Lwa

The Ghede Lwa are often viewed as benevolent Spirits of the Dead who are in the transition state of reaching Rada status, and still some Ghede are waiting to reincarnate or resurrect into the material plane. They are great healers, protecters of children and often have a mischievous, and trickster like nature to them.

The Ghede fall into the biggest group of Lwa and fall in between the Rada and Petro, and their mischievous nature is often misunderstood.

They are the messengers or mouthpiece to the dead as well as highly elevated spirits, and also are known to help transport dead souls into other planes of existence. Many also help in opening the pathways between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead. As a whole their color is black.

The Kongo Lwa

The group of Loases have their origins within the Congo region of Africa. This group of Lwa include the Simbi division mostly venerated in Haitian Vodou, and the Mpongo Spirits venerated in Palo Monte and Palo Mayombe. While the Rada represent Cosmic and Natural Forces, the Petro and Congo embody human traits, desires and emotions. They are fierce, and often hot tempered spirits. There color as a whole is Blue.

Nago Lwa

The Nago nation includes many aspects or roads of the Orisha Oggun, or the Lwa Ogou, such as Ogum, Ogou Balendjo, Ogun Panama, Ogun Zarabanda, Gran Ogun Batala, Ogou Sango, and so forth. Originating from the Ogun state in present day Nigeria as well as Benin and Osun, the Ogun are associated with Fire and Metal, and manifest their energy through labor and hard work. They have the power to destroy and create and are the great Leaders of battles. They are blacksmith, and rulers of weapons and all metals. They are envisioned as warriors, generals or soldiers, as they always carry a weapon such as a Sword, or a Machete. Traditionally the name Ogun is similar to a surname or last name for Nago Lwa although the name Ogun or Ogou comes first.

While the Haitians classify their Lwa into 5 nations, The Misterios "Loases" of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico classify them into 21 divisions.

The Dominican Republic 21 Divisions are

The Leguas The OgunesThe GuedesThe Rodas The LokosThe Lokomis The Petos The Simbis The Petifones The Marasa The Zombis The Indios The Nagos The Congos The Guineas The NiñillosThe CaesThe DanguelesThe Shuques The Piues The Difemayos

In Puerto Rico there is a slight variation. The Sanse Misterios are.

THE LEGBAS

THE OGUNES

THE GUEDE

THE CANDELOS

THE BELCANES

THE METRESAS

THE INDIOS

THE SOLIERES

THE PRIETOS

THE SIMBISES

THE CENTINELAS

THE GUINEAS

THE MADAMAS

THE NINOS

THE ORIENTALES

THE POTENCIAS

THE MAGOS

THE AGUASES

THE JEMELOS

THE CEMISES

THE ARABES

Within Puerto Rican Sanse the most venerated are the Siete Sanses or Siete 7 Jefes of the Sanse Pantheon, which is similar in concept to the Seven African Powers.

Some societies or families differ and may include, Luis El Guedesito, Pa Viejo, Cachita Tumbo, Amalia Belcan, Ofelia Balendo, Agua Dulce or Rio Tempestoso. It is important to note that not all Sanse Societies venerate the same Misterios.

La Siete Potencias Africana

OrulaYemayaElegguaChangoOgunOchunObatala

Also Babalu Aye, Ochosi and Oya.

In tern these 21 Divisions are broken down into three major Divisions, each Division has 7 Seven main Jefes or Chiefs that rule over that particular Punto. So you have 3 Divisions which has 7 Puntos, and 7 times 3 equals 21. Some Puerto Rican societies include the Commissions as well. Again each sociedad or familia will have variations on what constitutes the 7 Jefes of Sanse. It is not that we do not respect the other Misterios, its that the 7 Jefes are the most widely respected, or known on the island both within Brujeria and Sanse.

The Earth Division is made up of those Spirits, or Saints that are close to the Material plane these spirits as a whole are known as the Commissions, or Cortes and the Punto to the Comisiones is ones Guardiana spirit known as El Centinela.

Papa Legba is Saint Anthony, His color is brown and his feast day is June 13.

Luis Guede is Child of Atocha, His colors are Red and Black, his feast day is December 25.

Marassa is Saints Cosmo and Damian. Their colors are Red and Green Rojo/Red, Verde/Green and feast day is September 26.

Marta La Bruja is Saint Martha

Metresili is Our Lady of Sorrows, Her colors are Pink, Baby Blue and White. Her feast day is September 15.

Ofelia Balendjo is Our Lady of Mercy, Her colors are white, light blue and clear, and his feast day is September 24. Ogun Balendjo is Saint James, His colors are Red and Blue, his feast day is july 25th.

Ogun Fegai is Saint Jorge, His colors are White and Red. His feast day is April 23.

Ogun Batala is Saint Martin of Tours, His colors: White and Red. His feast day is November 11

Osanjin is Saint Franscise

La Sirena is Estrella Maris Blue. Her colors are Blue and White, Her feast day is September 7th.

La Señorita is Saint Claire. Her colours: White and Yellow, Her feast day: August 11

Rosita Guedelia Legba is Saint Rose of Lima.

Tindjo Alague is San Rafael

21 DIVISION DE SANSE

This is not the 21 DIVISION as practiced in The Dominican Republic, it is the Misterios that are venerated in Puerto Rican Sanse. Each Sociedad will vary on which Misterios are part of the Division.

TRANSLATER

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SANCISTA BRUJO LUIS

Luz y Progresso, I am Sancista Hermano "Brother" Luis also known as Brujo Luis. I have been professionally practicing variouse traditions of Caribbean Brujeria Witchcraft for over 20 years, since my late teens. I have also been reading Tarot, doing palm readings and giving Spiritual Consultations since the age of 19 to my hispanic community here in Massachusettes.
I was born with the sight of clairvoyance as I have seen shadows and felt other worldly presences ever since I could remember. I am a Medium of the Mesa Blanca tradition and baptized a Sancista, and a Santerista all of the Puerto Rican traditions. I also underwent various initiations into the Cuban Santeria Lukumi tradition in the early 90s, receiving my collares and guerrilleros, but I never felt quit comfortable with that Religion, so shortly afterwards I returned to my Puerto Rican eclectic roots and heritage. A spiritual and occult traditions that is as colorful and beautiful as its people. Sance also known as Zancie, Zance, Sanses, Puerto Rican Voodoo or Puerto Rican Umbanda and Mesa Blanca Espiritismo and Santerismo all traditions of the Puerto Rican people.